The Portland daily press., 1887-04-05
STORIES OF THE STORM.
Snow Flakes Big a FIapJacks Fall in
Bangor.
The Terrific Gale That Blew at Bow
cry Beach.
RecoIlectlons of other Spring Storms
In This Region.

IN TntS Region
At Bowery Beach Saturdays snow storm
and northeast gale was, by all odds, the most
severe for the winter. From sunrise until
D. M, both wind and snow steadily increased
in fury, and when the climax was reached
the storm was frightful in its violence. The
thermometer at the Cape Lights was out of
order, and the correct velocity of the wind
was not ascertained, but it was estimated to
be as great as Is miles per hour. The storm
fog signal, some 400 yards to the leeward of
the keepers house, could hardly be heard
above the roar of the elements.
The keepers dwelling, nearly new and
very substantial structure, but one of the
most exposed on the coast, rocked and
trembled like an aspen, and it seemed for
time that the roof would be torn from the
house. The whole structure groaned and
creaked like ship at sea, and in the morn
ing it was found that the walls and ceilings
were all badly cracked. Fissures were OPP
ened in the plaster in every room in the
house, the chambers especially being badly
scanned in many places.
Fishermen were seen off the Cape i'm the
moring but It Is believed that they reached a
safe harbor before the gale became too fu-
rlous; A tremendous heavy sea was created
which subsidized as fast as the gale abated
and Sunday morning the ocean was compar-
atlvely smooth. No mishaps to shipping
can be seen or heard of.
A VETERANS REcoLLEcrIoNs.
Mr.. s. L. Corser apropos of SATURDAYS
snow storm, said yesterday that he remem-
bered several more backward seasons than
the present. In 1S43 he was superintendent
] nj tho lin p,
THAT year." said he, sit was the 23rd of
April, before we got through to Augusta on
wheels. And even then the snow was piled
up against the fences and stone walls along
the road side to the depth of three feet The
snow melted away, however, without caus-
ing any serious freshets ON the rivers" The
| winter of 1872 he remembered was exceed
lngly severe on the railroads. The Portland,
Saco portsmouth road had just been OPP
ened ana an attempt was made to run two
trains daily to Boston. Soon one was aban-
doned and the other was run so irregularly
that when spring opened and the boat was
put on, the Argus remarked, NOW we shall
near occasionally from Boston," On the
first day of April of that year two trains
stuck fast in the now on Scarboro Marsh.
1861 was another bad year for the railroads.
Mr.. CorSer remembers day in February of
tlat year when train on the Atlantic and
81. Lawrence with three engines got stuck at
buried up in snow. The mercury was 50 de-
grees below zero and the men suffered great
ly In their efforts to extricate the train
SOME DATES OF BIG SPRING STORMS.
The following letter was received by the
PRESS yesterday. 1t gives some interesting
facts about the severe snow storms that have
occurred in springs of the past:
PORTLAND, April 4, 'S7.
To the Editor of the Preeo.
In your account of the late storm in to-
days PRESS, you make slight mistake in
dates. send you list Of late snow storms
10r the past 20 years. The dates are correct
Inc storms you mention of April 3 and 10
1884, could hardly be called bad ones. We
had 1t rainy, cloudy and foggy from the 18th
to 2lst, inclusive, thus keeping vessels In the
harbor. -Four inches of snow came the
night OF April End, and sleighs were out the
3rd The great storm you mention in 1867
was on Jan. 18th.
March 2lst 1868-Toughest snow storm of the
season. Horse ears stopped running
April 7lh, l56S-Heavy gale and snow Sleigh
April 10th, 1S6S-Another. with mercury 24o
May 9Th, 1s6s.Thick snow storm all the fore
March 27th, Is71-Fivc inches came. Good
sieeighing next DAY:
April FIFTH, 1s73-snowed all night and nm 70
noon, April l4th, but being warm, $40 to 400, and
49,
inches accumulated.
May Bird. 1s73-Thick snow all the forenoon.
Mercury 37o at noon.
April 10th, 1874-Sx inches came. Mercury
33o at noon. few sleighs out.
april zoth, lS74-Heavy snow storm began the
nlght Oelore and lasted until Ii a. IN. Over sir
inches came. Several sleighs were out and teams
came n from Windham on runners on the 27th.
April 4th and 9th, l876-Heaviest storm of ihe
winter, showed ali day the 4th and ali night and
most OF the 9th. About a foot came and drifted
p saon T. came OF warm the 9th and took the
sa1 tSa On Two gays This stormwa fully as bad
March 30th, 1ss1-Heayy gale and snow storm
S AZ, III Ss 10y ?. m. ana continued all the next
gay. SIX inches of heavy, damp snow come
Most OF the telephone and fire alarm wires were
April 18th, 18s1-very heavy gale and snow
storm. Wind 80 miles. Mercury 800 Six inches
| OF damp snow came. '"'''s'
March n Both, 1884 Heavy gale and cold. Mer-
curry ~, but only an inch Of snow.
April sra, 1S84-Snowed four inches the night
| before and sleghs were out
April 9th, 1SS6-Heayy gale and rain storm
showed the 9TH and 9Th.
BLOWN FROM A TRAIN.
On Saturday evening" Mr. Hall Richard
son OF this city, who is visiting his mother
ln-law, Mrs. Hill, residing on Maple street in
Maiden, Mass, was crossing between the
cars on the 10.15 p. m. outward bound train
from Boston, when the force of the gale
blew him from the cars. The train at that
time was crossing the bridge over the Charles
river, and it was supposed he had beer
blown overheard, as the train was STONED
and search made for him without avail. II
seems, however, that he was blown from the
train into the snow at the side of the track
lie was found later and carried to Boston.
ana on Sunday was removed to the home of
MS mother-in-law by his brother-in- law. MIR.
John Wlnslow. He was quite severely in
Jured about the head and body.
Old Inhabitants Amazed.
Especial to the Press]
MECHANICS FALLS, April A severe
snow storm ragged here Saturday and the
roads are badly blocked DIR. Holt reports
that he was unable to drive outside the VIII
lage limits, having made the attempt and
failed ewing to drifts.
Snow Flakes as Big as a Mans Hand
Fall in Bangor.
Especial to the PREssl
BANGOR, April A severe snow storm
ragged here for about an hour this morning.
1t was an extraordinary storm on account of
the great size of the flakes. Old seamen saw
they never saw anything like it. Some
flakes were as large as the palm of ones
hand. One man said that three of the flakes
would make sleigh ride.
Sudden Death.